CS 236: Advanced Databases

Course Description:

In this course, we will discuss various issues arising in the context of
data management. The course will begin with a review of such issues as
file systems, architecture of database management systems,
data models, and relational databases. We will also examine logical and
physical design of databases, hardware and software implementation of database
systems, and distributed databases. The bulk of the class will consist of
reading papers drawn from the research literature.

Prerequisites:

Class times:

Office hours:

By appointment. Tel: 827-5318
E-mail: ravi@cs.ucr.edu.

Grading:

Class participation: 15%, project: 50%, exams: 35%.

About the project or research paper

You have the choice of doing either a project or a research paper.
The project or research paper is a major part of the class grade, and you
should therefore expect to spend quite a bit of effort on it. You have the
choice of doing either the systems project that is asigned, or working on a
research paper.
Ideally, a research paper should be publishable. However, a project that lays
the groundwork for what may publishable would also be acceptable. The
project may take several forms, but in all cases, its value depends on the new
contributions it makes. A project could be a software (or hardware) system
that implements and examines a new idea. Alternatively, it could be a
theoretical contribution that combines or extends existing ideas in novel or
interesting ways.
To give you a sense of what to shoot for, take a look at
this
link.

Research paper progress
Since projects are open-ended, you need to conform to these deadlines to make
sure you will be able to finish it on time.

Week 2: Initial half-page description of interest area.

Week 4: Specifics of the topic to be researched, with a list of
references.

Week 5: Initial detailed report on the state-of the art in the
field,
and outline of initial results.

Week 8: Updated report on results obtained.

Week 10: Final version of project report due.

Books

The bulk of the readings are expected to be from the research literature. A
list of readings from the literature will be made available. No textbook is
specifically required, but the following books are likely to be useful: